Diggers, also known as excavators, are impressive and mighty pieces of machinery that are very useful, particularly in the construction industry. These powerful machines can perform a multitude of difficult tasks around the worksite, and thus reduce the effort and time needed by workers. As impressive as diggers are though, the real magic lies in the attachments they use, with specialized digger attachments available for specific jobs.
What Are the Benefits of Having Digger Attachments?
Improved Functionality, Productivity & More!
Digger attachments are a great asset to invest in because they change the way your excavator functions, and hence make specialized tasks easier. It saves you the hassle of owning multiple bulky machines in terms of both space and money, thus increasing productivity and letting you make the most of your investment. Changing attachments is easy, and the results offered make them a no-brainer.
Create a Safer Worksite for Everyone
Digger attachments also improve the safety of your team by automating a lot of tasks that would otherwise have to be done manually. The small amount you pay for an attachment offers incredible results, especially when compared to the costs a potential accident could have.
Reach Further, Do More
Another underrated benefit of using digger attachments is that they help you reach places that otherwise might be extremely difficult or impossible to reach. This can help reduce the time or labor needed on certain jobs.
Your Must-Know Types of Digger Attachments
As mentioned earlier, there are a wide range of digger attachments you could opt for, based on the nature of the job. As such, here are some of the most used digger attachments in Australia, and even globally.
Beautiful Buckets
Excavator buckets are the most common attachments, as they assist in a range of different projects like construction, mining, and earthmoving. Whenever you need to be moving or handling bulky material. Bucket attachments can be used with full-sized excavators, and even mini diggers, hence making them extremely versatile. Buckets, too, come in a few different styles, depending on the job at hand.
For instance, tilt buckets offer supreme flexibility and are great for digging deep, if they have the right shape and sharp edges. Sieve buckets are used as screening devices, allowing you to sort different materials out. They remove hard materials like rocks, while lighter materials like sand or soil will stay put. Lastly, the crusher buckets are perfect for getting rid of unwanted material during demolition.
Rough Rock Breakers
Also referred to as a hydraulic hammer, a rock breaker attachment is primarily used to cut through or break down thick rock, concrete, or asphalt. As such, this digger attachment is often found and used across road construction, demolition, trenching and landscaping jobs. Rock breaker attachments are quite powerful and large, but they still offer great control to the operator. An experienced operator best uses it since it requires supreme accuracy to avoid damaging the rest of the structure. You do not want to end up with a bigger job on your hands!
Awesome Augers
Auger attachments have a simple job: drilling precise holes for poles or pipes. Based on the requirement of the job, an auger attachment comes in varying lengths and dimensions. It is commonly used before laying pipes for gas or water, or in road construction.
Great Grabs
As the name suggests, grab attachments are used to grab and move massive rocks or other bulky material across a worksite. As with other large attachments, a great deal of accuracy and precision is needed when using a grab to avoid any serious damage or accidents. A grab attachment also needs to be maintained properly, as its ‘fingers’ are prone to wear and corrosion, which could reduce grip. If this happens, the fingers should be replaced immediately.
Ready Rakes
A rake attachment is best used when you need to clear unwanted vegetation or shrubbery from an area before you can proceed working upon it. Rakes can also be used to sift through soil and rock to remove unwanted material and debris, leaving behind just the good soil.
Choosing the Best Attachment for You
While it is thoroughly established that having digger attachments for specific jobs is a good idea, it is still important to choose the right attachment. This often boils down to a few key factors.
What’s Your Job?
The most obvious factor is the requirements of the job. Not all attachments are handy for all jobs, so if you are primarily going to install pipes for water or gas, you would be better off investing in an auger than a rake.
What’s Your Machine Like?
Next, you need to consider the excavator you are going to use the attachments with. If your excavator is not compatible with an attachment, or if its dimensions are not suitable for the attachment you have been eyeing, then you should look at other attachments to fit the bill.
What’s Your Budget?
And finally, as with all things, you need to consider your budget and bottom line before investing in an attachment. In an industry like construction, prices can exponentially rise if not kept in check, so knowing what you are investing in and why is a necessity. However, remember that investing in digger attachments can go a long way to managing your costs, output, and efficiency. You may just need an initial large short-term outlay to get those consistent long-term returns.
Maintaining Your Digger Attachments
The maintenance of all your digger attachments is incredibly important because a tiny problem could potentially cause a lot of damage, may it be through reduced output or accidents. Therefore, it is good practice to check your attachments for any visible wear or cracks before every use. If you see any damage, loose parts, missing parts or are unsure about any of it, it is best to avoid using said attachment till you repair or replace it. It is equally important to make sure you are using the right digger attachment for the job and using it correctly.
Some attachments have parts that may need replacing from time to time, like the fingers on a grab or the teeth on a bucket. This will keep productivity of these attachments high, hence making things easier for you as well. Lastly, the best maintenance tip is to choose a good-quality attachment in the first place. If you opt for a subpar attachment, you could potentially spend more effort, and money, in maintaining it.
Get Digger Attachments Online
A lot of online stores deal in all things relating to excavators, including attachments. With a wide variety of digger attachments for different jobs, and even different excavator sizes and configurations, they cater to everyone in the market. With quality products that are reasonably priced, you won’t have to dig deep for a good deal.
